Perpetual calendar

ABSTRACT

A perpetual calendar having a first group of indicia bearing discs displaying the days of the week, a second group of indicia bearing discs displaying the months of the year, a third group of indicia bearing discs displaying the tens digit of the days of the month, and a fourth group of indicia bearing discs displaying the units digit of the days of the month with each group pivotally connected to a corresponding pivot assembly which is located between two opposing vertically extending panels. The indicia bearing discs are selectively rotated between a masked position between the opposing panels where they rest upon supporting projections and a display position where they rest upon stops.

United States Patent Knaus et a1.

[451 Dec. 17, 1974 1 PERPETUAL CALENDAR [75] Inventors: Dennis A. Knaus,Germantown; Richard E. Wysocky, Grafton, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Jos Schlitz Brewing Company,

Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 393,788

[52] US. Cl. 40/107, 40/67 [51] Int. Cl. G09d 3/00 [58] Field of Search40/107, 111, 113-115, 40/67, 70; 35/74, 28.3, 31 A [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,527,704 2/1925 Ray 40/67 1,552,920 9/1925 Glover40/67 2,188,744 l/1940 Turner 1 40/67 X 3,418,737 12/1968 Lambert 40/67FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 935,671 2/1948 France 40/107 1 57'llrliavlllllmrl 32 H /a as 84,660 2/1957 Netherlands 35/283 PrimaryExaminer lohn H. Wolff Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Andrus, Sceales, Starke &Sawall 5 7] ABSTRACT A perpetual calendar having a first group ofindicia bearing discs displaying the days of the week, a second group ofindicia bearing discs displaying the months of the year, a third groupof indicia bearing discs displaying the tens digit of the days of themonth, and a fourth group of' indicia bearing discs displaying the unitsdigit of the days of the month with each group pivotally connected to acorresponding pivot assembly which is located between two opposingvertically extending panels. The indicia bearing discs are selectivelyrotated between a masked position between the opposing panels where theyrest upon supporting projections and a display position where they restupon stops.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIEL SE81 7 m4 1 PERPETUAL CALENDARBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a perpetualcalendar and more particularly to a calendar having a series of groupsof discs mounted upon a plurality of pivot assemblies for selectivelydisplaying a calendar date.

Known perpetual calendars have frequently utilized relatively complexapparatus some of which have been operated be power sources which aregenerally expensive to manufacture. Many manually operable perpetualcalendars, on the other hand, have utilized removable discs which arecompletely removed from a display panel when not in use while othermanually operable perpetual calendars have mounted a number of rotatableindicia bearing discs about a single pivot assembly, thereby making itdifficult to display several discs at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a perpetual calendarand particularly to a calendar having a series of groups of cards ordiscs mounted upon a plurality of pivot assemblies for selectivelydisplaying a calendar date.

Specifically, a plurality of pivot assemblies are connected to a supportmember of the calendar and a number of groups of indicia bearing discsare connected to the pivot assemblies for selectiverotation between afirst position wherein the discs are masked by a vertically extendingpanel and a second position wherein the discs are displayed. Thedisplayed discs in the second position are preselected to provide acorrelation with selected discs of adjacent groups to provide thepreselected calendar date.

The invention is economically fabricated and provides a back panelhaving a upper vertically extending portion and a lower. portionwhichincludes a lower supporting projection. A front panel includes alower portion which is connected to the supporting projection of theback panel while an upper vertically extending portiOn is positioned inspaced, substantially parallel relationship with the. upper portion ofthe back panel.

The pivot'assemblies' include spaced projections connected to one of thepanels and associated pins which hold the seriesof discs. The pinsinclude outer flanges which entrap the series of discs while permittingtheir selective rotation about the pin.

The discs are egg-shaped and include an outer display portion andaninner neck-shaped portion, the latter containing an opening whichreceives the pins. Locating tabs are connectedto the discs which may begrasped to permit rotation between a lower, masked position between thefront and back panels and an upper display position.

The supporting projection which connects the front and back panelsincludes a surface for supporting the discs in a masked position toprevent further rotation thereof. In addition, the supporting projectionincludes a stop portion while additional stops are connected to one ofthe panels for limiting rotation and supporting the discs when in thedisplay position.

The subject invention thus provides a manually operable perpetualcalendar which is economical to fabricate and capable of varied usedincluding at offices, within homes, at inns and at many other locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings furnished herewithillustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors andclearly discloses the above advantages and features, as well as otherswhich will be readily understood from the detailed description thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a perpetual calendar;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to thedrawings, the perpetual calendar 1 includes a front facing panel 2having an upper vertically extending portion 3 and a lower portion 4. Aback panel 5 also includes an upper vertically extending portion 6 and alower portion 7 including a laterally extending supporting projection 8.The front panel 2 is I joined to the back panel 5 by the supportingprojection 8 so that the upper vertically extending portion 3 ispositioned substantially parallel to the upper vertically extendingportion 6. The front and back panels 2 and 5, respectively, may consistof plastic, .stiff cardboard or other suitable material and are joinedor connected together by appropriate spot welds 9 or may other wise besecured by an appropriate adhesive, interlocking or connecting tabs, orthe like.

A number of pivot assemblies 10, 11, 12 and 13 are connected in spacedrelationship to the upper vertically extending portion 6 of the backpanel 5 and each pivot assembly supports a series or group of indiciabearing cards or discs. Specifically, a first group of discs 14 isrotatably connected to the pivot assembly 10 and selectively display thedays of the week. A second group of discs 15 is rotatably connected tothe pivot as sembly 11 and selectively display the months of the year. Athird group of discs 16 is rotatably connected to the pivot assembly 12and selectively display the tens digit of the days of the month. Afourth group of discs 17 is rotatably connected to the pivot assembly 13and selectively display and units digit of the days of the month.Although only four groups of indicia bearing discs are shown anddescribed in the preferred illustrated embodiment, it is contemplatedthat two or any larger number of groups could be utilized with aplurality of two or more corresponding pivot assemblies to selectivelydisplay various aspects of the calendar date.

The pivot assemblies 10 through 13 include corresponding supportprojections 18 through 21, respectively, which are connected to theupper portion 6 of the back panel 5.

The support projections, 18 through 21 are specially designed to retaincorresponding pins 22. Specifically, each pin 22 as shown in FIG. 6 iscylindrically shaped having a bore 23 and an outer circumferentialsurface 24. The pin 22 further includes an abutting portion 25 at oneend and an outer flange 25 at the opposite end.

The locating projections 18, 19, and 20 each contain cylindricallyshaped recess 27 having a central axis which is substantiallyperpendicular to the panel portion 6. The recess 27 receives the pins 22so that protion 25 of each pin 22 abutts the end'28 of the recess 27.The projection 21 is a circumferentially shaped, tapered peg whichreceives the central bore 23 of pin 22. The ends 28 of recesses 27within the projections 18 through 20 are spaced at different intervalswith respect to the panel portion 6 so that the outer flanges 26 of pins22 are spaced forwardly at different distances with respect to the panelportion 6 and the outer flange 26 of pin 22 mounted upon projection 21.The spacing of the outer flanges 26 permits freedom of rotation for thediscs within adjacent groups.

The groups 14 through 17 each contain a preselected number of egg-shapeddiscs 29 as shown in FIG. 5. Each disc 29 includes an innernecked-shaped portion 30 and an outer display portion 31. The innerneckedshaped portion 30 includes an opening or a bore 32 and a locatingtab 33 positioned between the bore 32 and the outer display portion 31.

A preselected number of disc 29 are thus mounted at each of the pivotassemblies 18. through 21 about the pins 22. Specifically, the pivotassembly 10 contains seven discs mounted about the pin 22 for displayingthe different days of the week, i.e., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.while the pivot assembly 11 contains twelve discs connected about thepin 22 for displaying the different months of the year, i.e., January,February, etc.. In like manner, the pivot assembly 12 contains threediscs connected about the pin 22 for displaying the tens digit of thedays of the month, i.e., 1, 2, and 3, while the pivot assembly 13contains ten discs connected about pin 22 for displaying the unit digitsof the days of the month, i.e., -9. As previously discussed, thedistance between the various flanges 26 of pins 22 and the panel portion6 varies so that the discs within each group can rotate withoutinterference with discs in adjacent groups.

The pivot assemblies 11, 12 and 13 have corresponding spaced stops 34,35 and 36, respectively, which consist of projections connected to theupper portion 6 of back panel 5. Each of the stops 34, 35 and 36 areeffective for limiting the extent of rotation of the discs located onthe corresponding adjacent pivot assemblies and further provides asupport for the preselected discs located in a display position. Thesupporting projection 8 of the back panel further includes a stopportion 37 which is located in spaced relationship to pivot assembly forlimiting the rotation of the discs within group 14 and further providesa support for the preselected discs in a display position. An upperportion 38 of supporting projection 8 further includes a support for thediscs within groups 14 through 17 when in a lower, masked positionthereby limiting rotation thereof.

In operation, the majority of discs within groups 14 through 17 arelocated in a lower, masked position between the upper panel portions 3and 6 thereby resting upon the upper surface 38 of the supportingprojection 8. A selected disc within each group 14 through 17 ispivotally rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 3 about thecorresponding pivot assemblies [3, respectively, from the lower, maskedposition to an upper, display position. The displayed discs aremaintained in a viewing position by their contact with the stops 34, 35and 36 together with the stop portion 37 of the supporting projection 8.The stops 34, 35, 36 and 37 thus limit further rotation of thepreselected discs and their particular offset spaced relationship withrespect to the corresponding pivot assemblies 10 through 13 maintainsthe preselected discs in a display position.

The displayed discs can be manually rotated, clockwise as shown in FIG.3, to the lower, masked or storage position between the spaced upperpanel portions Various modes of carrying out the invention arecontemplated as being within the scope of the following claims,particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matterwhich is regarded as the invention.

We claim:

1. A perpetual calendar, comprising a first panel having a first upperportion and a first lower portion including a supporting projection, asecond panel having a second upper portion spaced from said first upperpanel portion and a second lower portion connected to said supportingprojection of said first panel, a first, second and third pivotassemblies connected in spaced relationship to said first upper panelportion, a first group of indicia bearing members eachdisplaying adifferent units digit or the days utilized to represent the monthrotatably connected to said first pivot assembly having means forselective independent rotation between a first position wherein saidselected members are masked by said second upper panel portion and asecond position wherein a first selected member from said first group isdisplayed, a second group of indicia bearing members each displaying adifferent tens digit utilized to represent the days of the monthrotatably connected to said second pivot assembly having means forselective independent rotation between a first position wherein saidselectd members are masked by said second upper panel portion and asecond position wherein a second selected member from said second groupis displayed, and a third group of indicia bearing members eachdisplaying a different month of the year rotatably connected to saidthird pivot assembly having means for selective independent rotationbetween a first position wherein said selected members are masked bysaid second upper panel portion and a second position wherein a thirdselected member from said third group is displayed, said selected first,second and third displayed members being adjacently located andproviding in combination a preselected calendar date.

2. The calendar of claim 1 and including a fourth pivot assemblyconnected to said first upper panel portion spaced from said first,second and third pivot assemblies, and a fourth group of indicia bearingmembers each displaying a different day of the week rotatably connectedto said fourth pivot assembly having means for selective independentrotation between a first position wherein said selected members aremasked by said second upper panel portion and a second position whereina fourth selected member from said fourth group is displayed, saidfirst, second, third and fourth selected members being adjacentlylocated and providing in combination said preselected calendar date.

3. The calendar of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third groupsof members engage said supporting projection when selectively positionedin said first position, and said first upper panel portion furtherincluding first, second and third stops spaced from said first,

second and third pivot assemblies with said first, second and thirdselected members engaging said first, second and third stops,respectively, when placed in said second position for display.

4. The calendar of claim 1, wherein each of said members comprises agenerally egg-shaped disc having an outer display portion and an innernecked portion rotatably mounted on said corresponding pivot assembly,each member includes a locating tab connected to said necked portion andpositioned to be manually grasped.

5. The calendar of claim 4, wherein said first and second pivotassemblies each includes a locating projection connected to said firstupper panel portion and a pin removably secured to said projection, saidpin located within aligned openings in said egg-shaped discs and havingan outer flange for entrapping said discs in rotatable confinement aboutsaid pin between said outer flange and said projection.

1. A perpetual calendar, comprising a first panel having a first upperportion and a first lower portion including a supporting projection, asecond panel having a second upper portion spaced from said first upperpanel portion and a second lower portion connected to said supportingprojection of said first panel, a first, second and third pivotassemblies connected in spaced relationship to said first upper panelportion, a first group of indicia bearing members each displaying adifferent units digit or the days utilized to represent the monthrotatably connected to said first pivot assembly having means forselective independent rotation between a first position wherein saidselected members are masked by said second upper panel portion and asecond position wherein a first selected member from said first group isdisplayed, a second group of indicia bearing members each displaying adifferent tens digit utilized to represent the days of the monthrotatably connected to said second pivot assembly having means forselective independent rotation between a first position wherein saidselectd members are masked by said second upper panel portion and asecond position wherein a second selected member from said second groupis displayed, and a third group of indicia bearing members eachdisplaying a different month of the year rotatably connected to saidthird pivot assembly having means for selective independent rotationbetween a first position wherein said selected members are masked bysaid second upper panel portion and a second position wherein a thirdselected member from said third group is displayed, said selected first,second and third displayed members being adjacently located andproviding in combination a preselected calendar date.
 2. The calendar ofclaim 1 and including a fourth pivot assembly connected to said firstupper panel portion spaced from said first, second and third pivotassemblies, and a fourth group of indicia bearing members eachdisplaying a different day of the week rotatably connected to saidfourth pivot assembly having means for selective independent rotationbetween a first position wherein said selected members are masked bysaid second upper panel portion and a second position wherein a fourthselected member from said fourth group is displayed, said first, second,third and fourth selected members being adjacently located and providingin combination said preselected calendar date.
 3. The calendar of claim1 wherein said first, second and third groups of members engage saidsupporting projection when selectively positioned in said firstposition, and said first upper panel portion further including first,second and third stops spaced from said first, second and third pivotassemblies with said first, second and third selected members engagingsaid first, second and third stops, respectively, when placed in saidsecond position for display.
 4. The calendar of claim 1, wherein each ofsaid members comprises a generally egg-shaped disc having an outerdisplay portion and an inner necked portion rotatably mounted on saidcorresponding pivot assembly, each member includes a locating tabconnected to said necked portion and positioned to be manually grasped.5. The calendar of claim 4, wherein said first and second pivotassemblies each includes a locating projection connected to said firstupper panel portion and a pin removably secured to said projection, saidpin located within aligned openings in said egg-shaped discs and havingan outer flange for entrapping said discs in rotatable Confinement aboutsaid pin between said outer flange and said projection.